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Private donation pushes playground ahead

Kids will be swinging sooner at the new North Saanich middle school after what Craig Mearns sees as a little bit of payback.
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Christine Bennett


Kids will be swinging sooner at the new North Saanich middle school after what Craig Mearns sees as a little bit of payback.

The North Saanich council member recently voted not to provide funding for a new playground at the school currently under construction. Alongside his fellow North Saanich council members, Mearns voted against funding the playground because the request was submitted past the deadline for grant applications.

“After turning down the application from the school, (council) passed one from the CRD … and they had not even asked for the money,” Mearns said. “I felt really badly about that.”

After a little thought, he felt it was a mistake to have turned down the school’s request, and decided to donate $5,000 to the cause himself.

“I as a councillor am covering for what council has not done,” Mearns said. “What they should have done was given the money to the school for the playground and that was not done on the basis that (the request) was late.”

The new school, which is slated to open in the spring of 2012, wasn't budgeted for a playground.

“We're a little bit over halfway, we have to come up with about 70,000,” said principal Keray Wing. “We can do one of the planned playground areas and the swings and the fall protection underneath will be as we can complete our fundraising.”

Students at the current school are excited about the new play area, the existing school has only a set of monkey bars.

“It gives the children something to do at recess, because at the old school there’s not much to do,” said student Lauren Fanelli.

“Mostly we just kind of sit around in the field right now, we don't really have anything to really play on … it sometimes causes trouble,” said student Montana Wright. “With the playground we’ll be able to be doing something and there won't be trouble.”

“Some kids get into mischief, so they kind of need to do something,” added student Landon Underwood.

Climbing wall, zip-line like equipment and “spinning monkey bars” are among the items the kids hope to see in the playground.

“We sure would appreciate anybody else that could come forward and help the community get a playground that is designed for middle school aged kids,” Wing said. “The idea is that everyone in the community is more than welcome to come on weekends and after school because kids always need to be active and playing.”

To donate, contact North Saanich middle school at 250-656-1129 or send a cheque to the Saanich School District earmarked for the playground.